The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-15
THE PRIDE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

OF the fittsDurg OF the South
COMMERCIAL TOURIST.
THE PRIDE OF NEST VIRGINIA.
Morgantown. a Resort for Pleasure and
Health.Seekers.
Correspondence Pittsburgh Press
MoRGANTowN, w. VA, Sept. 30
The chilly winds and drizzling rains
of autumn are driving the last of the
city tourists home from their sum
mer outings. Many, travel worn
and wearied by long journey from
some distant summer resort, find
that the benefit which they have de
rived from rest and change of scene
has been considerably Iessened by
the fatigue of travel. To such it
will doubtless be welcome revela-
tion to learn that scenes Of sylvan
beauty and rugged grandeur as well,
lie almost at their very doors; that
four hours ride by rail or an after
noon and night spent upon the placid
bosom of the Monongahela in that
very poetry of motion which is to
be found upon the decks of an in
land steamer, will place them in the
heart of a region where the beauties
of nature blend in scenery which in
its varied charms is perhaps without
an equal upon the American CONT
nent. Elk Speaker Randall. though
he saw but the least attractive por-
ton of the beautiful Monongahela
valley in his recent excursion from
Pittsburg, expressed himself as de-
lighted with his trip. Had he pene-
trated the barriers of the Mononga-
hela Navigation company as far as
the roaring Cheat he would certainly
have echoed the encomiums of the
European tourist who pronounced
the Monongahela valley the Switzer-
land of America. an nothing but
the picturesque ruins upon its
banks" said Mr. Randall, SIS the
Rhine superior, if indeed equal, to
this beautiful stream" And Mr..
Randall is not, believe, given to en-
thusiastic outbursts except in tariff
debates.
Those who, with more time at
their disposal than the busy states
man cen snatch from his public du-
ties, continue their journey to the
head of navigation at Greensboro,
may, if they choose, reach by canoe
or wagon, the inviolate glens of the
Cheat, and, in the vast mountain
wilderness of West Virginia, find
all that fashion seeks in the Adiron
dacks. s.
Following the gradually narrow
ing, though still broad, Mononga-
hela for l6 miles you arrive at Nor
gantown, the Athens of West Vir-
ginia, nesting like gem in emerald
setting, among the hills, accessible
now not only by water but by a
branch of the Baltimore d Ohio rail
road, which intersects the main line
at Fairmont, 26 miles away, and
passing through what President
Garrett pronounced the finest bit of
scenery on the whole road. Lest |,
who have almost the admiration of
native for this charming town, should
be thought too enthusiastic in it's
praise, let me quote the impressions
of stranger upon visiting it, which
l have found in letter recently
written by a lady of Washington,
d. c.:
'sThe town slopes abruptly down
to the brink of the Monongahela,
which winds like a silver ribbon
among the reeds and rushes that
fringe its banks. A handsome sus-
pension bridge leads right into the
business heart of the town, and
Judging by the signs along the way,
it is easy to imagine that every need
full thing can be obtained.
The town is encircled by hills,
over which the roads wind in and
out, up and down, furnishing the
most enchanting drives, while the
cool, shady valleys invite to haunts
Of sylvan loneliness and perpetual
solitude.
The University buildings crown
one of the loftiest hills, and year af-
ter year the classic halls are filled
with the noblest specimens of West
Virginia's noble sons. Off to the
northeast the blue line of Cheat
mountain pencils the sky, and
drive of several miles brings you to
this far-famed scene of grandeur
the towering peaks, verdure- clad,
seem to touch heavens dome, while
their dark shadows fall far down in
the depths of the river that cuts
like crystal blade through the
mountain side; the water is, seem
ingly, of inky blackness, yet clear
and pure as the morning dew in the
heart of rose, and one could ask
no better Claude Lorraine than the
placid bosom of this cleaning, glid-
ing, mysterious river, for it mirrors
everything about it in the earth and
sky. Far up the mountains there
are wells of solid rock ID feet deep,
where the water s'falleth never" I'm
not artist enough to give you fair
wood-painting, but must leave you
to imagine the weird and fantastic,
the lovely and sublime in nature
which cannot be portrayed
"a thing of beauty is joy forever"
and the day spent at Cheat will be
ever green in my memory.
The whole country is rich in min
eral supplies; coal seems to burst
from the hill sides without aid. The
recent discovery Of a sulphur spring
--denominatedsthe s.New White Sui
phur'-where the jet is thick as
mans waist, may, in short while,
convert those mountain Businesses
into scenes of gay and fashionable